It's been a very long time since I've posted here... since before Halloween! Fortunately, I've kept a list of at least most of what I have seen, so here it goes...
Time Code - While the story itself is rather cliche (too lazy to do the accent), the idea of 4 frames all being seen and heard from at once with stories that overlap and interact is a brilliant one and makes for a much more interesting viewing than a simple plot summary would suggest. I recommend it!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - I don't find this to be quite as rewatchable as Sorcerer's Stone for some reason, even though I think it's far better and it took the film franchise to a whole new level. Out of the first three, this is the best book and best film. My only problem is the bus scene, which I now agree feels just a little too long.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - I need to go read everyone else's thoughts on this and post my review in that thread. I forgot about it. For now, though, let's just say that I liked it!
Inside Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - A very interesting and well-done (and even somewhat thorough) hour-long making-of documentary that aired on A&E. Any fan of the movie(s) will like this, and I hope that it (or something very similar) will be included on the rumored Special Edition of this film, whenever that comes.
Anger Management - I watched this in parts during the 5 hours it took for me to put on my Halloween make-up this year. This is one of those movies that gets funnier each time I watch it. Even though it doesn't quite feel Sandler's other movies, I think it might be my favorite of his.
Bruce Almighty - Not even close to the first time I've seen it, but it's one of the best comedies of the decade for sure. Always nice to revisit. I'm hoping
Evan Almighty is keeps its tone- comedic and otherwise.
Millions - A fairly entertaining story with very unique and magical execution. Good acting, too. I felt that it could have been a little more compelling, though. I think it was going too far to nab a child audience, when the story really appeals more to adults.
The Year Without a Santa Claus - One of my all-time favorite Christmas movies. I like the similar casting between this and <i>Pete's Dragon</i> too.
I couldn't let a Christmas go by without hearing the Miser Brothers' anthems. What ever happened to the live-action adaptation that we've been hearing about for years??
Anchorman - I love Will Ferrel in skits and cameos, but I usually approach projects that put him in a starring role with some caution. This one was definitely very funny, though! I was pleasantly surprised. And now I know what all this "You stay classy, San Diego" business is about!
Zathura - Either it's been too long since I've seen <i>Jumanji</i> (and it has) or I actually liked this better. And let me just say what a surprise that is... I went in with pretty low expectations. The previews made it look like a <i>Jumanji</i> knock-off... and it is, but it's different enough to be thoroughly enjoyable and the space setting made it really exciting. I came away more than satisfied and can't wait for the DVD. I want to thank Mermaid Kelly again for the Jumanji DVD she gave me as a present for Secret Santa. I still need to watch it, but the free <i>Zathura</i> ticket that was included inside it ended up making for a very fun night and a great movie-watching experience... thanks!!
A Charlie Brown Christmas - This was part of a very nice Christmas gift I got this year. It had been a few Christmases since I'd seen it in its entirety, so it was quite nice to see it again. There's something very appealing about the simplicity of the "Peanuts" shorts. The ending is great.
Home Alone - What can really be said? One of the best Christmas movies ever and perhaps the one I look forward to the most each year. Excellent. Now it needs a Special Edition DVD.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York - Sure, it's a rehashing of the original, but it doesn't hide from that fact and it does it in the kind of celebratory way that I like to see sequels (especially comedy sequels) do. Not as good as the original, but still one of my favorites and overall a very good follow-up. These two never fail to crack me up.
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) - Another one I look forward to every year... what can I say? I love Christmas. The poem is brilliant and the cartoon does such a great job bringing it to life.
The Matrix Revolutions - I will forever defend this as a brilliant and wholly satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, though I think <i>Reloaded</i> is my favorite. Neither sequel had a chance at appeasing the fan base. Ditto to SW I & II.
Rudolph: The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) - Ummm... ditto to what I said about all the other Christmas specials/movies I love and watch annually.
War of the Worlds (2005) - As a summer blockbuster flick, it was very good... suspenseful and entertaining. Going deeper, it's filled with problems. The acting was annoying and spastic (for the first half of the movie, I could have cared less if Dakota Fanning got lasered by the aliens), the characterization was weak and so their actions didn't always make sense, and the ending was rushed and came out of nowhere with a hard-to-believe resolution. The entire troubled family subplot seemed to be thrown in there just for the sake of having a weighty dramatic component. I also thought it was a tad too grim. Still, I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Call Me Claus - Whoopi + Santa = Nothing not too like. Actually, there's a little too much corn in this movie, but none of it comes from Whoopi. There's nothing too original, as the plot is a blending of several Christmas movie staples, but it's something I love watching each year (yes, I will concede that that's largely because Whoopi is in it, but she makes it good).
Fun With Dick and Jane (2005) - Easily the most blatantly politically biased movie I've seen since <i>Fahrenheit 9/11</i>, which was unexpected. Still, very funny and entertaining. I really like Jim Carrey.
The Brothers Grimm - See my review:
www.ultimatedisney.com/brothersgrimm.html
What's Eating Gilbert Grape - Gotta say I was disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad movie and I actually liked it, but it was extremely slow-placed and just very average... not quite the life-changing movie it's been reputed to be. It felt more appropriate for television than theaters, I thought (not that that's always a bad thing). However, the acting was absolutely grade-A. Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio are two of my favorite actors (probably my top 2), so even though the movie that resulted in them acting together wasn't quite stellar, their performances certainly were. That's especially true for DiCaprio, who deserved his Oscar nom for this.
The Producers (1968) - Very much a Mel Brooks film, and even though it was my first time seeing it as opposed to the many times I've seen some of his classics, it's one of my favorites now. Very funny and inventive! Can't wait to see the musical adapted-adapatation film!
The Whole Ten Yards - I don't know what all those people who kept saying it didn't live up the original were talking about. I'm a big fan of <i>Nine</i> and this one was every bit as enjoyable. Funny!
Dark Water - Review to come soon.
Shew!
-Aaron
